The
Dark Path of Salvation
In reading Ishmael, once is forced to face questions that many
don’t even dare to ask, and often, they bring up feelings of guilt in
ways that we usually don’t feel. How often is one made to feel for blame
for the collapse of an entire civilization? Can an entire species be
changed? And even if we knew the right way, would we walk that path? By
the way, what is the “right way”? In Ishmael, Quinn presents
his thoughts that invoke those same questions. What he seemed to be saying
was that mankind’s growth and progression is in conflict with nature,
and that we must realize that his “civilized” manner is against with
the community of life. In my understanding of his words, mankind’s
destiny seemed bleak and hopeless. It wasn’t until the last few chapters
(and only after he blatantly stated so) that I realized that he had a
greater view. Humanity does have a grander destiny, and it is up to us to
realize it.
Towards
the beginning, Quinn (through Ishmael) seemed to deplore the existence of
the Takers. “The Takers are attempting to defy the “laws of
living” and destroying the world for his own growth,” Ishmael
seemed to be saying. “Only the Leavers will survive.” The
narrator found that depressing because Ishmael was saying that humans
aren’t meant to be the rulers of the world—that the world in fact wasn’t
created for man. I found that view depressing because, first of
all, I had assumed that he meant that the progression into a
“civilized” race was against the laws of nature, and secondly because
I knew that humanity could not, and would not abandon its civilized way of
living—so there would be no hope at all. Later, I suddenly felt so much
better when he stated that this was not the case. “[Civilization and]
human settlement isn’t against the law, it’s subject to
the law.” (Quinn 250). And I understood what that meant.
Towards
the end of the novel, Quinn revealed that humanity did have a destiny—a
place in the community of life; so long as humanity realizes that he is
in fact a part of it. I find Quinn’s view of the destiny for humanity
inspiring and significantly appealing. Through Ishmael, he acknowledged
the achievements of humanity, and recognized that mankind is indeed
unique, though not that he is above nature, but that he was the first to
reach such a level of self-awareness, and of remarkable intelligence.
“He is the trailblazer, the pathfinder…” (246), Quinn says to
illustrate the fact. What I liked specifically about his new views was
that, right now, mankind is alone in the world as the one that is
“aware”, but in the future, other creatures would soon follow in
mankind’s example, and then the species wouldn’t be alone. Mankind,
which once tormented the world with his own growth, would be the teacher
at the school of the world to show the other creatures the right way.
It’s as if the bully—the tyrant has finally found out that the world
would still accept him even after all he’s done, and give him a place as
the leader of the club. And that is “Not a shabby destiny by any
means.” (247).
Quinn
states that for this destiny to be realized, mankind must understand that
he is subject to the laws of living and that he is a part of the world. I
realize that now, and I feel that it is imperative that others, and not
just a few, but the majority of the population, should too.
